Online bingo glossary - For all your online bingo terms

Bingo Glossary

Take a look at our glossary of online bingo UK terms to get clued-up on some of the technical lingo used in both internet bingo games and in offline bingo. You can find out more about online bingo UK chat jargon and traditional bingo lingo with our related articles, all here at Littlewoods Bingo Tea Break.

Bingo Glossary Terms :

75-Number Bingo

There are 75 numbers that can be called in this type of bingo. Littlewoods Bingo offers 90-number bingo games to play online.

90-Number Bingo

This type of bingo game is played here at Littlewoods Bingo. In traditional bingo, 90-number bingo cards are a different colour to 75-number bingo cards.

Admission

Players usually have to purchase a minimum number of cards to participate in a bingo game. The purchase of cards is the admission fee. At Littlewoods Bingo you can buy bingo cards for just 10p, letting you play an internet bingo game and participate in the chat rooms.

After Game

The bingo game played after the regular session of play. Online bingo is different as it allows you to play an internet bingo game whenever you please.

Ball Gate

The one-way flap in a ball dispensing machine at the top of the ball runway. The ball passes under the ball gate to enter the main playfield area.

Ball Lifter

The mechanism used to raise the ball from beneath the playfield to the ball shooter tip.

Ball Runway

The channel from which the ball is launched up by the ball shooter to enter the main playfield area.

Ball Shooter

A spring-loaded plunger with a rubber tip, used to launch the bingo ball into the playfield area.

Barrier

A box section containing playing consoles and coin slots on both sides. A conveyor belt inside moves money from the coin slots to a cash box at one end of the barrier. Players face each other to play, across the barriers.

Basket Bingo

Bingo game where "basket" prizes are given.

Beano

A game in which players covered squares on numbered cards when corresponding numbers were called out. The aim is to cover a complete line. Beano predates bingo and is so-called because beans were originally used to cover the numbers called out. Check out our bingo history article to find out more about the game’s interesting history.

Bingo Bango Bongo

A points-based bingo game for two players or more.

Bingo Board

A display board (usually electronic) that lights up showing each number as it is called. 75-number bingo has 75 numbers on the board and 90-number bingo has 90 numbers on the board.

Bingo Booklets

A number of different coloured bingo sheet cards bound together in a booklet. They are usually bound in the order in which they will be played.

Bingo Card

In 90-number bingo, for example, a player’s bingo card has 3 rows and 9 columns. Each row has 5 numbers and 4 blank spaces. There are thousands of variations of cards to choose from. Online bingo uses virtual cards which you can see on your computer screen as you play and which work in the same way.

Bingo Marker

In traditional offline bingo, a crayon or ink dauber is used to mark the numbers on a bingo game card as they are called out. At Littlewoods Bingo you can choose to “dab” manually, or to use the Auto Dab function. Auto Dab allows all numbers called that match those on your tickets to be marked automatically; this is ideal if you’ve purchased a large number of tickets and can’t keep up! Even if you don’t select Auto Dab, you won’t miss out on a bingo cash prize as the system will recognise that you are a winner.

Blackout or Coverall

A variation of bingo in which the object is to cover all spaces on your bingo card, rather than just a line or two lines.

Blower

A forced-air device that mixes the bingo balls and dispenses them to the caller who announces the numbers and displays them on a bingo board. Used in offline bingo.

Bonanza Bingo

This is a progressive coverall jackpot that is usually played as the 13th game of the session in traditional bingo. 45 numbers are drawn before the session and players mark them on separate cards. The countdown begins at 48 numbers or less and goes up one number per week to 52 numbers or until won. The amount of the bingo jackpot is determined by card sales for that game.

Book

A series of tickets for bingo games.

Break Open

A multi-ply card made from paper with perforated tabs. The play area of the card is covered to conceal numbers, letters or symbols, some of which have been designated in advance as prize winners.

Buzzword Bingo

A game played using buzzwords in place of numbers. Players mark words and phrases on their card as they are spoken. The first player to mark five phrases or words in a row calls “bingo”.

Caller

The person who calls out the bingo numbers as they are drawn in offline bingo. Take a look at our bingo lingo article for some of the funny, fascinating and down-right strange bingo calling terms that have been used throughout the years in traditional bingo halls!

Card

The playing card used to mark off bingo numbers as they are called.

Cash Ball

A progressive jackpot that pays off on the called number, drawn before the session begins.

Cash In Prize

A bingo game in which the prize is a cash payout, taken from the money paid in. there are loads of cash prizes to be won every single day here at Littlewoods Bingo, in the main bingo games, the chat games and as part of our bingo promotions. Play online bingo here today to get your hands on one!

Casino Night (Also Vegas Night)

An event held for a set period of time during which a qualified organisation holds casino-style gaming events. Bingo is included, along with roulette, blackjack, poker, gin rummy craps and more. Littlewoods Bingo offers a variety of online casino games for you to play every single day if you like! Just take a look at our Bingo & Games section.

Chat Games

Enter any one of the friendly online chat games here at Littlewoods Bingo and you can choose from a wide range of fun bingo chat games, giving you added opportunity to win bingo jackpots and cash prizes. Take a look at our bingo chat games article and then join in the fun; start playing games or join Littlewoods Bingo today.

Chat Master (CM)

The person in charge of online bingo chat rooms and chat games. Also called the chat monitor or chat moderator, the CM will usually type in capitals or bold font to differentiate themselves from other players and is there to ensure everything runs smoothly. Our friendly Chat Masters will direct the chat games here at Littlewoods Bingo.

Chat Room

A section online to chat with other online bingo players, make friends and swap tips. Chat rooms also offer special chat games, giving you additional chances to win cash and fabulous bingo prizes. You can play bingo online at the same time as making friends here at Littlewoods Bingo.

Consolation Prize

A prize sometimes offered if there is no winner in a predetermined number of calls. Keep an eye on our bingo promotions for news on games like this here at Littlewoods Bingo online.

Coverall

See Blackout.

Early Bird Game

An Early Bird game usually that starts before the session but sometimes it refers to the first game of the session. The first game of a session is also more commonly known as a Warm Up.

Face

The individual bingo sheet containing 24 numbers and a free space in the middle.

Flimsy or Flimsies

Bingo cards printed on thin sheets of paper. There are usually three cards printed on a single sheet.

Four Corners

Cover the four corner numbers of the bingo card in order to win.

Free Space

The blank square in the centre of the card with no number assigned to it. The free space counts towards a winning pattern in 75 number bingo and should be covered at the start of every game.

Full House

A winning pattern in which a player has marked off all the numbers on their ticket.

Game Board

An electronic display board next to the bingo board that displays the pattern needed to win that particular game. The game board looks like a bingo card and shows the variation of bingo being played.

Game Room

When playing online bingo, players can often enter different “game rooms” to play or chat.

G.T.I

An electronic dauber system which enables a player to play multiple packs at one time. Usually only one is allowed per person and for a small fee.

Hard Ball

The first number drawn at the start of the bingo session.

Hard Card

A bingo card printed on heavy cardboard material with shutters to cover each number as it is called out.

Hardway Bingo

Bingo in a straight line without the use of the free space.

House

A gambling property or establishment, such as a casino or bingo hall. Also the phrase called in some games of bingo when a winning pattern is achieved.

Inlaid Card

A pre-printed card with black discs used to cover the numbers as they are called out.

Inside Square

A bingo pattern in 75-number bingo in which players must cover all the numbers in the I, N and G columns surrounding the free space, in order to win.

Instant Bingo

75-number bingo: a break open ticket which contains the letters B I N G O, bingo card faces, bingo numbers, and no other symbols. Players must incorporate letters spelling the word B-I-N-G-O or complete a pre designated bingo pattern (vertical, horizontal or diagonal line) in order to win.

Jackpot

The largest cash prize, usually awarded for achieving a difficult pattern (such as a blackout) within a specified number of balls. One type of bingo jackpot is the progressive jackpot, in which the prize amount increases during play, and the winner is the first person to reach bingo within 50 calls.

Lucky Jar (or Cookie Jar)

A jar containing cash, the contents of which can be won by the player who gets “bingo” on the lucky number. The lucky number is usually the first number to be called out at the beginning of a session. Money is added to the jar every time the lucky number is called or if the caller makes a mistake in announcing the game.

Main Stage Bingo

The main event of a session of bingo games.

Minimum Buy-in

The minimum amount that players must spend to play bingo and to be eligible for prizes. At Littlewoods Bingo you can play an online bingo game for just 10p and there is no limit to the amount of bingo cards you can buy.

Money Ball

A number drawn before the game that offers double winnings for the player who achieves “bingo” on that number.

Moonlight Bingo

A session of bingo that starts late at night (usually around 10pm), also called Late Night Bingo.

Multiple Winners

If two or more players achieve bingo at the same time, the prize is divided equally between them.

Mushroom

Bingo displays grouped together in a mushroom-like shape, with a narrow tubular base, and a wider top. 6-8 players can sit around the mushroom to play.

Nine Pack

Nine numbers in a block on one bingo card.

On

A player is “on” if one or more of their cards is missing only one number to achieve bingo.

On The Way

The game played prior to the blackout on the same card.

Parti

Short for participation bingo, parti is a type of slot or cash bingo in which the prize is cash and is dependent on the number of players (the prize has to be a minimum of 50% of the money paid in).

Pattern

The pattern players need to make on their card, by covering corresponding numbers when called out, in order to win. For 90-number bingo, the patterns include single line across, two lines across and full house.

Payout

The percentage of sales paid out by the house.

Pod Top

The unit on top of the barrier that contains all the mechanisms used in the game, such as coin mechanisms, credit displays and claim buttons.

Postage Stamp Pattern

A pattern that covers four numbers in a postage stamp formation (a 2 x 2 grid) in any of the four corners on a bingo card.

Prize Bingo

A game of bingo in which a set prize, vouchers or cash can be won. There are plenty of exciting prizes to be won at Littlewoods Bingo, on top of all the cash winnings up for grabs. Check out our bingo promotions for some of the special prizes to be won this month.

Progressive Jackpot

A bingo jackpot which increases continually over time if not won in a set number of calls.

Quickie

A bingo game in which the numbers are called as quickly as possible and the player’s card must be fully covered to win.

Rainbow Pack

A paper bingo pack that allows players to play for three or four different prizes at once.

Reno Night

An evening of casino games such as blackjack and roulette often held in bingo halls, restaurants or hotels. As well as bingo, you can play online casino games here at Littlewoods Bingo.

RNG

RNG stands for Random Number Generator and is the electronic machine used to pick the numbers for a game of offline bingo. This ensures numbers are picked fairly.

Serial Number

The minimum five-digit number printed on each set of charity game tickets or cards. Each ticket in a set has the same serial number.

Series

The number of unique faces that a single set will contain. For example: a 5000 series will have 5000 unique faces.

Session

In traditional bingo a session usually lasts between two and a half hours to three hours. In online bingo a session is simply the amount of time you play for. There are no time limits with online bingo, and you can have a session of bingo at any time, day or night. Play online bingo today to see for yourself!

Shutter Board

A hand-held re-usable plastic board with pre-printed numbers, usually in a 4x4 format. Numbers are marked off when called with shutters.

Single Line Across

A pattern in which a player has marked off all the numbers on one row of their card.

Six Pack

Six numbers in a block on one card.

Special

Games played with a set of cards different to those purchased at admission.

Speed Bingo

A variation of bingo in which numbers are called very quickly and players can achieve bingo in as few as three numbers. Speed bingo is usually played before or after a regular session.

Split Pot

A bingo game in which the winner splits the sales of the game (the pot) with the bingo hall or house.

Table Board Bingo

A lottery scheme in which players purchase a table board card. To win, players must complete specified arrangements or patterns of numbers on the Table Board from numbers selected at random.

Throwaways

See flimsies.

Tickets

Printed pages on which the main bingo game is played. The pages are laid out in grids and usually come in booklets. Tickets are seen on your computer screen during an internet bingo game.

Two Lines Across

A pattern in which a player has marked off all the numbers on two rows of their bingo card.

Ups

The number of bingo sheets used to make up a book.

Vegas Night

See casino night.

Warm Up

See early bird.

Wild Number

A wild number is usually played on a double bingo that leads into a triple bingo. The first number drawn usually determines the wild number. For example if 43 is drawn, all numbers ending in 3 can be marked off.

Wrap Up

The last game of a bingo session.

Now you’ve familiarised yourself with all the technical bingo terms, put your newfound knowledge into practice by playing an online bingo game today. And, if you’re new to Littlewoods Bingo, come and join in the fun: register to play our online bingo games today!